DCU’s Big 4 Revealed

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David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros., has disclosed that four characters will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of the DC Universe, potentially suggesting exciting developments ahead. The studio has been making headlines with its recent move to rename Max back to HBO Max and the unveiling of a new trailer for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman, which happened mere hours apart. Although the anticipation surrounding Superman might have been eased by recent successes such as A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, and potentially Final Destination: Bloodlines, the forthcoming DC film carries significant weight due to its position at the heart of a new interconnected cinematic universe.

On Warner Bros.’s Q1 earnings call, our CEO, David Zaslav, highlighted Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Supergirl as “pivotal pillars” in shaping the DCU’s future. The term “pivotal pillars” might have sparked some laughter online, but singling out these four characters is intriguing to me since they form the core of the DC Trinity – the most renowned heroes in DC Comics. These three – Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman – are often seen as the backbone of the universe and lead the Justice League. The DCEU aimed to establish itself around this trio, with “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” marketing its unique selling point as having these three characters sharing the screen for the first time.

How Will Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Supergirl Shape the DCU?

Warner Bros has consistently prioritized Superman and Batman, with a focus on Superman in 2025 as they launch an extensive marketing campaign similar to Barbie’s. Details about the DCU’s Batman film, “The Brave and the Bold,” are uncertain, but it’s clear that the franchise is centering around the Caped Crusader. A Clayface movie, based on one of Batman’s villains, is scheduled for release in September 2026. The Teen Titans, previously announced, may include a version of Robin, Batman’s sidekick. Batman was hinted at in Creature Commandos, linked to the character Doctor Phosphorus’ backstory. Additionally, “The Batman Part II,” originally delayed, is still in progress and separate from the DCU.

Although it appears that Warner Bros. currently does not have any active Wonder Woman projects in the works. They ended up scrapping Patty Jenkins’ planned Wonder Woman 3 and are instead focusing on an Amazon prequel series for HBO titled Paradise Lost, which takes place before Wonder Woman’s birth, making her absence a key feature of this show. While her possible return was hinted at in the Creature Commandos, no new solo project or actress to portray Wonder Woman has been announced yet. Furthermore, a previously planned Wonder Woman video game has also been canceled. At present, it seems that Warner Bros. does not have any immediate plans for this iconic superhero’s return to live-action or gaming.

Another intriguing moniker for a character is Supergirl. This character has been well-known and cherished for quite some time, with a renewed interest due to her CW series, but she’s set to make a bigger impact with the forthcoming release of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, slated for 2026. In this movie, Milly Alcock portrays Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin, and it marks the second feature film in the DCU. Unlike the television side of the DCU that focuses on different aspects of the franchise, such as Creature Commandos, Peacemaker Season 2, and Lanterns, the movie side kicks off by highlighting the Superman family. While other DC characters like Booster Gold, Swamp Thing, and the Teen Titans might also appear, it’s plausible that these four figures could serve as the central focus of the series, much like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America did in The Infinity Saga of the MCU.

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2025-05-14 22:02